ABOUT US

"Our beautiful America was built by a nation of strangers. From a hundred places or more they have poured forth into an empty land, joining and blending in one mighty and irrestible tide. The land flourished because it was fed from so many sources--because it was nourished by so many cultures and traditions and peoples."

-- President Lyndon B. Johnson, Remarks at the signing of the Immigration Bill, October 3, 1965 at Liberty Island, New York.

Some Immigration Facts: Did you know:

Native Americans did not receive full U.S. citizenship and voting rights until the June 2, 1924 "Indian Citizenship Act" (or "Snyder Act")?

The 1946 Luce-Celler Act resumed naturalization to Indian- and Philippino-Americans, and allowed 100 persons of each nationality to immigrate per year ?

Black immigrants are one of the most highly educated immigrant groups (and have higher percentage of cellege educated than general US population)?

Top immigration countries in the world are: the USA, Russian Federation, Germany, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, France, Canada?

Mission

Welcome Mat Detroit is committed to strengthening communities and service capacity by broadening access to and knowledge of services and resources, fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all, and building capacity of immigrant service providers.

Background

Immigrants and refugees come to the United States today from everywhere around the world. Metropolitan Detroit, with a foreign born population of more than 400,000, has the second largest immigrant population in the Great Lakes region.

Yet immigration leaves behind one's past for the new. Thus, to thrive, immigrants need access to resources, vital services and culturally sensitive service providers. The Welcome Mat Detroit catalogs a robust network of social service providers in the region and makes it as simple as possible for immigrants to decide which provider is best suited for them. With the information possible through the Welcome Mat, new connections and communities can be developed.

In addition to providing immigrants with a searchable and browable database of service providers, Welcome Mat Detroit fosters collaboration between these providers. With Welcome Mat Detroit as a centralized organizer, agencies can share services and make referrals when appropriate. A fuller knowledge of what is available identifies gaps in essential services and creates opportunities for providers to fill them in cooperation with one another. Welcome Mat Detroit also facilitates opportunities for service providers with shared needs for development to develop joint funding proposals.